Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-28
A PERSONAL POSTOFFICE.
What q Government Inspector Stumbled
Upon In the Wild Woods.

What q Government Inspector
Upon In the Wild Woods.
United States Mail: A travelling post
office inspector went up into Scott county
a few days ago for the purpose Of investi-
eating certain reported crookedness. One
afternoon he reached a small cabia stu
ated near a lonely road. He stepped. in
tending to got a drink OF water, and az he
drew near tho house was astonished at
seeing a signboard bearing the following in
scription: "Pooet Ofc." An old fellow
with a grizzly beard and hairy chest-dis-
played, as his shirt was unbuttoned-came
out, and merely nodding to the inspector,
sat down on a stump.
"Tol'ble."
"Have you some fresh water handy"
"Plenty Nv it down thar in the branch.
One wv the boys shot my bucket all ter
pieces, an sence then I halter 60 to Their
branch wen I wanter drink"
just then q man mounted on a mule rode
up and asked: ''Mr. Pluramer. got any
letters for me?"
"Yas. thar's one here. Bill Patterson,
but you KANT get it.. Go away from here,
or I'll make you wush you hadn't come"
"Wush yer would give it ter me-"
"Yas, and Their niger wished that Their
Don would come down outer tEer tree, but
he didn't GOMEZ
''Say, Mr.. PIummer =
"Shut yer mouth an .ay %notEin,' an
MORN that, you'd better mosey away from
here"
Tie man rode off, and the inspector, ad-
dressing the most master. said:
"Why didn't you give that man his let
teri"
"Kase he worked agin ms when l run for
justice Nv the peace"
"Yes, but the government doesn't care
anything for that"
Reckon not. but l do"
But you were appointed to sci We the
people,"
"Yas, an l parve 'em too-sarve someuv
them like old Nick"
My friend. | am travelling postofice in
SpectOr an-"
"All right, then travel"
"If l report you to the postofice depart
ment, which | shall be very apt to do.
you'll travel"
Reckon not. This establishment b'longs
ter me, an nobody's got a right ter tell me
to git out"
How long have you had this office"
Ever sense l built it,"
II mean how long have you been post
MASTER"
"'Bout a year, I reckon"
At this juLcture IN old fellow ca'istiously
picking HIS way among the bushes, ap-
preached the postmaster, who, upon seeing
him. sprang to his feet and exclaimed:
What in thunder Go you want here,
Abe SMITH"
s.C,,mo flor tho poporD
Didn't l tell yer that yer can't get it,"
Eyes, but l lowed yer mout change yer
mind"
We'll I hain't. When yer refused to
lend me yer slide an boss t'other week, /
told yer that yer couldn't git nothin' else
outen this Office"
Pm er goin' ter git that paper"
Not lessen yer be a better man than l
be-"
'An' that's about what 1 think"
wall, help yerself."
With agility, surprising for such old
men, they grappled each other and began
a desperate struggle. Abe Smith succeeded
in throwing the postmaster.
"Now," said Smith, as he began to choke
old Plummer, ''going to let me have that
A gurgled Ives" came from the post.
masters throat. Smith released his hold
and suffered Plummer to get up.
wall" said the postmaster as he stood
brushing fragments OF leaves and bark from
his heard, Il reckon l was sorter mistaken
yer. l didn't know that yer wuz such a
nice man. Come in Abe. an git yer paper. |
|ur yer have earnedi it like a white man."
Amt thar a letter for me, too?"
"Yas."
"Wall, I want it,"
KANT git it, Able. Yer fit fer Their
paper an not fer Their letter.
Got to have it, Plummer."
Not lessen yer whip me ergain."
"BIeve I ken do it,"
"All right, Able"
They went ut it again, pranced around.
'triking at each other. Finally Plummer
truck Abe q heavy blow and felIed him.
hen seating himself on the PROSTATE man
le said:
Don't want the letter, do yer, Abie?"
Reckon not, Plummer."
All right; come erhead and git yer
When Abe had gone the postmaster
urned to the inspector and said:
Want anything outen me?"
NO. l believe not"
"Et yer had er letter here an I didn't
ant yer to have it yer wouldn't arpv ther
int. would yer?"
II don't think that I slould.'
Don't want no truck with me?"
None"
well, then. good-by. Got ter 60 in now
n mQ no ny *hAo vail